Khate Shekate

Date of Creation: 1980

Artist: Yadollah Kaboli Khansari

Materials: Ink on paper, Persian Khatam frame (wood with copper etching)

Arrival in Dunedin: 1987

Description: Persian calligraphy, A4 size, framed

Researcher: Amy Rapley

History:

Pictured above is an authentic style of Khate Shekate by renowned master of Persian calligraphy Yadollah Kaboli Khansari. It was presented as a gift to Ebrahim Taghavi in 1980 after he successfully treated a friend of Yadollah’s at his clinic in Tehran. It arrived in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1987 after the Taghavi family’s abrupt move from Iran due to political unrest.

Calligraphy is a form of divine art in Persian culture, where the beauty and intricacy of the image expresses the transformation of written word to artistic form. According to Persian (Iranian) mythology, God is a painter who has painted the world with his pen and beautiful colours.

The image was created with single hair brush strokes and is roughly the size of an A4 piece of paper with the frame also of Persian origin.

Significance:

Gift giving is typical in Persian culture. The exchange is intended to be a sign of respect, honour, love and gratitude from giver to receiver.

The name of the calligrapher appears in the lower left triangle of the image and depicts a poem of sentimental and enlightened significance to both the artist and Mr. Taghavi.